Barbara Calder, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 09/12/08

 

Family Forced to Sell Home and Leave Country to Get Healthcare 

“My husband, Bruce, and I never were able to obtain medical insurance that would cover my condition, a devastating and disabling genetic disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—so we are having one massive estate sale, selling our home, and moving to Belgium, where I can get the care I need at a cost we can afford explains Barbara Calder of Colorado Springs, Colo.”

“Bruce had received insurance through his job, but they refused to cover me, saying that the plan didn’t cover genetic counseling. The insurance company eventually went broke, saying they hadn’t anticipated people getting older or using the insurance they had paid for.” 



“Every joint in my body is failing save my left hip. I have to tape my toes together at night when even the pressure of a blanket can cause them to dislocate. I live in constant pain, and get only partial relief with ibuprofen, the only medication I can afford without health insurance.”

“There are very few doctors in this country who understand my condition, and people who suffer from this disease usually go undiagnosed and eventually lose their insurance. My mother died of the same condition, though also undiagnosed at age 40, my 19-year-old daughter developed symptoms at age 15, and my 22- year-old son is beginning to experience problems.”

“I want health insurance companies to be abolished, because they aren't in the business to care for the sick. Their main function is to make profits, and the sick just get in their way. Imagine every person paying a percentage of their income into health services that would help all Americans? That is how many European Union (EU) countries do it,” Calder continued. “Most people we met in the EU on our trip last week were proud to pay into such a system, because it made their country healthier and better for all who lived there.”

Read stories like Barbara's every day through November 4 at www.guaranteedhealthcare.org

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Sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

Un-payable medical bills. Skyrocketing premiums and other out-of-pocket charges. Insurance companies refusing to pay for needed medical care, rejecting policies to people with prior conditions, and dumping people when they get sick. 48 million uninsured Americans. Only one healthcare reform will address all these problems and cure our broken healthcare system. That's why America's nurses support a single-payer, expanded and improved Medicare for all, as in HR 676 which has 92 Congressional co-sponsors, more than any other health reform bill. HR 676 guarantees health coverage for everyone, assures choice of physician and hospital, controls costs, slashes administrative waste, and returns care decisions to patients and doctors, not insurance companies. For more information: Liz Jacobs, RN,  510-273-2232

 

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Your Lack of Health Insurance in Colorado Springs....

Barbara, I came across this site while doing some research, and I read your story. Have you tried to obtain some coverage with Cover Colorado? Cover Colorado is Colorado's State Guaranteed health insurance plan. While the coverage is a bit pricey, it is guaranteed issue, and you cannot be declined nor have exclusions for pre-existing conditions. However, they do impose a pre-existing condition waiting period for those who have had a gap in coverage of longer than 90 days. This is to prevent people from abusing the coverage and only purchasing it just before incurring very large claims. I believe the administrator of the plan is Pacificare. You can find information about Cover Colorado on www.covercolorado.org. Cover Colorado does offer premium discounts on a sliding scale for people who have a household income below $50,000. I wish you all the best, and I am so sorry for the pain you are going through.

help needed?

i am from brugge (belgium) myself, i read in a newspaper here you intend to come living in our beautiful city. if any practical help is needed, i would be glad to offer it... (you can ask the website owners my mail address...)

I just saw this newscast and

I just saw this newscast and believe my daughter has the same syndrome. We have been to dozens of doctors state side, and no one seems to be able to help her either. Yet the pain, and dislocations seems to be getting worse with age; she is now 20. I was wondering if you could share the name of the doctor in Belgium who has experience with this syndrome?

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firewheels

i dont about it but there are few yoogic exercise that i think may help you, so you should try it once

colorado drug rehab

I am 30 yrs old EDS with 2 young daughters, also w/ EDS

Barbara - I WOULD LOVE TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU! My father-in-law contacted me and told me to listen to your interview that is airing right now on 91.5 KIOS in Omaha, NE. I am 30 years old and have two daughters. All three of us have EDS. I have decent medical insurance through my husband's employer. But, have had difficulty finding care that helps. We were diagnosed two years ago through a genetic specialist in Iowa City, IA. We have been learning how to manage the symptoms from wearing the right shoes to sleeping on the right mattress. We have also started seeing a chiropractor. But, in the process of looking for a diagnosis, and finding one, I've been placed on a lot of prescription meds. I don't feel as though they are really helping, other than making me feel like my head is in a constant fog. I have decided that I would like to try more natural approaches to our symptom management. My husband and I have been doing research on how what we eat can affect our bodies. I've been especially interested in the Mediterranean diet, to see if my daughters and I can feel some relief from some of our symptoms. Have you ever tried a nutritional therapy of any type? If so, I'm curious to know your thoughts and your experience with it.

Thanks!
Stacey

Another EDSer

My father heard you speak on NPR and told me about it, I'm 24 and have EDS. My body started falling apart around 13 and I was finally diagnosed at 16 by a geneticist at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Currently, I'm on medicaid. But its a horrible and ridiculous struggle. I'm extremely limited in what I can do to work but couldn't live off of SSDI. I also can't make over a certain amount of money a month or I would loose my medicaid benefits, and medications alone would be thousands of dollars a month! Its horrible. And my best friend is even worse off, she has a rare GI disorder. She is being kept alive by TPN feedings which are an IV nutrition, yet SSDI refuses to cover it knowing that she would die without it! Its just so infuriating.

He did receive the highest

He did receive the highest level of a bill for the lowest level of caring that this nation has ever bestowed upon those pleading for quality medical care! He and his insurance paid so much more for so much less! AS I returned home every day from a painful 12 hour shift, the pain was in the pit of my stomach and in my heart and soul, I ask myself where is the place where the sick are comforted.
Regards,
West Los Angeles Chiropractor

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